Antithumb-sucking appliance



ad, 29, 1929. BELTZ I 1,733,933

ANTI THUMB SUCKING APPLIANCE Filed Da e. :51. 1926 Patented Oct. 29,1929 ui s ANTITHUMB-SUCKING APPLIANCE Application filed December 31,1926. Serial No. 158,305.

My said invention relates to an anti-thumbsucking-appliance intended todiscourage the habit frequently observed in infants of sucking the thumbwhich is considered detrimental to health and liable to result in injuryto the membranes of the mouth.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device whereby thesuction exerted by the mouth is broken, the invention being soconstructed as to admit airand thus discourage the infant fromcontinuing the practice. Referring to the drawings in which similarcharacters indicate similar parts and which are made a part of thisapplication: Fig. 1 is a perspective illustrating the use of myinvention in two different forms, Fig. 2, an elevation of one form ofthe devlce,

Fig. 3, an elevation of the same in another position, I

Fig. 4, a modification, and

Fig. 5, a different view of the last mentioned form.

In the drawings, reference characterlO indicates the body of a device ofcylindrical form adapted to encircle loosely the thumb of an infantshand. A suitable size of the device should be selected according to thesize of the thumb, it being my intention to have a suflicient clearancebetween the dc.- vice and the thumb to insure that air will be drawnbetween the two. In order to avoid injury to the membrances of the mouththe cylinder is preferably made of some such material as bakelite and isformed without any sharp edges as will readily be understood. The lengthshould preferably be such as to cover the middle joint of the thumb,leaving the end free'so as to interfere as little as possible with theuse of the hand.

Ina preferred form of the invention an extension 11 is formed at oneside of the cylinder integral with the same, said extension being ofsuflicient length to reach approximately to the wrist and being providedad- 'tube being less than that of the digit, and

jacent its lower end with a hole 12 to receive a cord 13 for attachmentof the device. Another hole is formed at 1 to receive a cord 15 wherebymore secure attachment may be provided. It will be understood that theform of the device may be varied, it may be made of other materials andthe attaching means may be varied to suit the taste or convenience ofthe user As one modification I have shown in Figs. 50 4 and 5 a form inwhich the body 10' is made of greater length and is cut away as at 15 topermit the desired movement of the thumb. Such device serves to preventpossible sucking of the end ofthe thumb, though it is believed to be theusualpractice of infants to insert the entire thumb in the mouth.Attaching means for this form may be secured by means of openings 12 and14 as in the other form. The extension 16 in which the opening 12 isformed is however indicated as being a separate piece secured to thebody 10 by riveting or in any other suit able manner.

In some cases it may be desirable to provide a shield for the finger,for example, instead of the thumb. Such a device is indicated in Figure1 as consisting of a pair of rings or cylinders 17 and 18 connected bysuitable flexible means 19 to permit the fingers to bend.

Various changes of form, structure, etc., will suggest themselves tothose skilled in' the art and therefore I do not limit myself to What isshown in the drawings and shown in the specification but only asindicated in the appended claims. It may be stated that in a preferredform of the invention it will be made of vari-colored material forornamental purposes, for obvious reasons.

Having fully described my said invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent is: I

1. An anti-thumb sucking appliance of the character described,comprising a substantially incompressible tube loosely surrounding adigit to permit air to pass between the digit and the tube, the lengthof said means for securing the same in place.

2. An anti-thumb-sucking appliance of the character described comprisinga substantially incompressible tube loosely surrounding a digit topermit air to pws between the digit and the tube, the len h of said tubebeing less than that of the 'git, and an extension at one side of thetube having an aperture for attachment of a cord for securing theappliance inplace.

3. An anti-thumb-sucking appliance of the character describedcomprisinga substantially incompressible tube loosel surrounding a digitto permit air to pass tween the digit and the tube, the len h of saidtube being less than that of the igit, and an extension at one side" ofthe tube having an aperture for attachment of a cord for securing theappliance in place, said tube having an aperture spaced from saidextension U for attachment of another cord.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

HOWARD H. BELTZ.

